The cause of a gastro outbreak at MasterChef judge George Calombaris' Hellenic Republic restaurant in Melbourne has been identified as the viral infection norovirus.

According to the Victorian Department of Health, the outbreak is likely to have been spread by a kitchen staff member, reported Good Food.

The restaurant was forced to close for 24 hours earlier this month after Boroondara Council and the Department of Health received numerous complaints of patrons who experienced symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps after dining at the eatery on Mother's Day.

MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris was forced to close one his Melbourne restaurant following allegations of a Mother's Day food poisoning incident

The Victorian Department of Health believe the cause of the norovirus outbreak was likely spread by a kitchen staff member at the restaurant

Health Department spokesman Bram Alexander said the department's tests determined norovirus, a common and highly contagious cause of gastroenteritis, as the cause of the illness.

'Of the 300-plus diners we interviewed, around 90 reported illness, which could have been associated with eating at Hellenic Republic Kew,' Mr Alexander said.

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Mr Alexander added it was 'likely' to have come from an infected food handler at the restaurant.

'While no specific food handler at the premises was identified as being ill at work, the local council is working with the restaurant to reinforce safe food handling practices, and the importance of good personal hygiene,' he said.

George shared this sweet snap with his own mother for Mother's Day prior to his restaurant shutting down for an alleged food poisoning incident

The restaurant was able to re-open the day after being shut on May 16 and once Boroondara Council inspections and a clean-up were completed.

A spokeswoman for Mr Calombaris' company, Made Establishment, said the group was working with the Department of Health to identify how this virus entered restaurant and measures were being taken to prevent it happening again.

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'A full deep clean has already taken place to ensure the restaurant is norovirus-free, and the Department of Health is happy for us to return to full and normal trading,' she said.

The spokeswoman also said norovirus had been 'sweeping through Melbourne'.

Mr Calombaris, a co-owner of the restaurant, previously issued a statement saying his Kew team had been 'absolutely devastated by the recent events'.

Cooking up a storm! MasterChef judge George Calombaris' Melbourne eatery forced to shut after outbreak of 'serious illness' among Mother's Day diners. He is pictured cooking up a storm alongside tennis player Andy Roddick at an event in Australia in 2009

'I am so sorry for those poor people that have been affected and to those inconvenienced by us taking precautionary measures and closing down the venue,' he said.

'We are confident in our procedures and standards of hygiene and the welfare and enjoyment of our guests has always been and will continue to be our highest priority.'

The reality cooking TV judge owns a 25 per cent in Made Establishment, which controls Hellenic Republic in Brunswick and The Press Club and Gazi in Melbourne CBD.

The Made Establishment spokeswoman previously said resolving the cause of the illness was the business' highest priority.

'Although there is no evidence as to the cause of this, we are working closely together with Boroondara Council and health authorities to discover the cause,' she said.

Calombaris makes up one-third of the judging panel on Masterchef alongside Gary Mehigan, and Matt Preston.

Calombaris, pictured centre, become a household name on MasterChef along fellow judges Gary Mehigan, pictured left and Matt Preston